Tipping machine



A. sPALEK Er AL TIPPING MACHINE File@ Feb. 1e, 1959 Wak INVENTOR .Idol/vh Jpn Zelf BY f' Z l' mfe i ATTORNEY. V

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `TIPlPlNGr MACHINE chik Application 'February 16, 1939, Serial No. 256,785

8 Claims..

This invention relates to apparatus for supporting models, stampings, castings, blueprints and/or the like in tilted position for the purpose of making projected layouts, developing templets,

laying out and checking models, ,stampings or machine surfaces, and for other purposes which vill become apparent from the following descrip..

ion,

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of a variety of uses by which considerable time and money may be saved in the drafting room, model room, and machine shop.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by which the above-mentioned work may be accurately and reliably accomplished in a comparatively short time by comparatively unskilled and inexperienced workmen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tiltable support for articles such as those mentioned above which may be readily set at selected compound angles for the purposes mentioned above.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of vthe type mentioned above used for projecting points for templets and making developed layouts in which the prior laborious process of using the theory of descriptive geom,

etry by projecting the views in engineering draw'- ingsinto different planes is dispensed with, thereby providing a less expensive Way to perform this work.

Other ob-jects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which lilke numerals are used to designate like views in the several views throughout: j

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the tilting support according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a left-hand end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the ture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a right-hand end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating certain details ofthe structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, broken, cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken substantially along the line 6--6 of Fig.v1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical struccross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig, 7; and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view with 5 parts in elevation, taken substantially along the line 9--9 of Fig. 6.

. While the apparatus of the present invention is capable of a variety of uses which will be pointed out hereinafter, the apparatus is par- 10 ticularly adapted for use in the drafting room for the purpose of making projected layouts from models, stampings, castings, blueprints and/or the like. 'Ihis particular use will be described in detail in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the apparatus is capable of a variety of other uses.

For making developed layouts it has been the practice to use engineering drawings in which the views are projected into different planes by the theory oi descriptive geometry. This. is a slow and tedious process and requires draftsmen of the highest skill so that the work is expensive to perform. The work is particularlyimportant in articles having complicated curved surfaces such as are found in automobile body parts, in the fenders, for example.

In general, according to the present invention, an apparatus is provided which includes a base having a stationary table mounted thereon in which the stationary table may serve as a drafting board. A tiltable article supporting member is disposed above the table and is so mounted that it may be tilted to selected compound angles 35 relative to the table so that an article supported on the support may be readily set at the desired tilted position. Supports for the article support extend above the table and are so constructed and arranged as to provide a three-point support for the article support. One end of the article support is pivotally connected to one of the points so that it may be pivoted relative thereto in rcross-planes; and the `other end of the article support is slidably mounted upon the other two of the three points. The article support is so mounted that it may be vertically adjusted at the point of pivotal connection and at the points of the slidable connection so that these points may be vertically adjusted independently oi each other. In this way, it will be evident that the article support may be tilted to practically any selected compound vangle relative to the working table.

.Means are provided for attaching an article CII to the article support, which may be a model, blueprints or the like. Such articles may be attached either to the under or. top surfaces of the article support` depending upon the use to which the apparatus is being put. Assuming that a model is attached to the under surface of the article support with the longitudinal center line of the model aligned with the longitudinal center line of the article support, it will be seen that the article may then be set at the desired compound angle relative to the working surface of the stationary table. It is then a relatively simple matter, through the use of the height gauge, disclosed and claimed in United States Patent No. 2,196,328, granted April 9, A1940 to Adolph Spalek and William J Zrenchifk on application, Serial No. 281,442, filed June 27, 1939, such application being` a true division-of the present application, to project pointslhon the model directly to a drawing board supported on the stationary table and to thereby form the working drawings directly. 'I'his is a purely mechanical process which dispenses with the prior tedious process requiring. the use of descriptive geometry, as mentioned above.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 thereof, a tilting apparatus is illustrated including a base I having a stationary work table I2 mounted thereon in a substantially horizontal position.

An article supporting member I4, which is generally rectangular in shape, is disposed above the table I2 and is adapted to have attached thereto the article being worked upon. The article being worked upon may be attached either to the under surface or top surface of the support; and the support is provided with a plurality of spaced openings I6 therethrough which are arranged at predetermined locations for the reception of attaching means which serve to attach the article to the support. When blueprints are to be attached to the supporting member, longitudinally extending flanges I8 are provided which are disposed at opposite sides of the support for the purpose of slidably receiving angle members to which the sections of the blueprint are attached and may be mounted at the desired location.

As mentioned above, the article support is tiltably mounted so that it may be set at selected compound angles relative to the table I2. In order to so mount the support' I4, an upstanding column 20 is xed to the base frame IIJ adjacent one end thereof and at substantially the transverse center of the base. A top frame member 22 which is generally U-shaped, having the base thereof supported on the top of column 28, extends longitudinally of the base and also has a longitudinally extending central portion 24 which is connected to the sides of frame member 22 by means of frame braces 26.

A vertical rotary screw 28 has the upper end thereof journalled in bearing 30 which may be mounted to the top frame member 22 at substantially the transverse center of the table. The lower end of the screw 28 is also journalled in suitable bearings'and has a bevel gear 32 secured to the lower end thereof for rotating the screw. Another bevel gear 34 meshes with the gear 32 and is fixed to a shaft 36 for rotation therewith, which in turn is mounted within suitable bearings in the upright column 20. A crank arm-38 is attached to'v the shaft 36; and it will be evident that upon turning the crank 38 the screw 28 will be rotated in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of turning of the crank 38.

A vertically movable carriage 46 is provided having a threaded opening 42 therethrough which is adapted to threadably embrace the rotary screw 28. The carriage 48 is vertically guided by a T- slot connection 44 with a carriage guide 46 in the form of a T which is formed on the inner face of the column 20.

One end of the article support I4 has a yoke pivot 48 pivotally connected thereto through pivot pin 58. The carriage 4D is provided with a projection 52 which extends between the arms of the yoke 48 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 54. It will thus be evident that the support I4 is pivotally mounted relative to the carriage 4U in cross planes. Also, it will be evident that the carriage 40 may be vertically adjusted along the screw 28 to any vertical position.

In order to tiltably and vertically adjust the other end of the table I4, a pair of upstanding stationary screws 60 are provided which have the lower ends thereof mounted on the base I0 on opposite sides thereof and the upper ends fixed to the ends of the U-shaped top frame member 22. Vertically moving supports 62 loosely embrace the screws 60 and are each supported on a nut wheel 64. The nut wheel 64 is provided with a threaded opening therethrough which is adapted to cooperate with the threads on the screws 66; and a ball bearing connection is preferably provided between the supports 62 and their respective wheels 64, so that the wheels 64 may be freely turned vrelative to the supports 62. The top surface of each of the supports 62 is preferably semicircular in shape; and an upstanding flange 66 is provided along one edge of each support 62 for a purpose that will be pointed out hereinafter.

A cross support for the article support I4 in the form of a rod or tube 68, having U-shaped straps I0 forming rigid extensions thereon at each end, is provided. The rigid straps 'I6 are adapted t0 embrace the screws 60 and rest uponl the supporting members 62. It will be evident that the elongated apertures provided by the U-shaped straps 'l0 permit tilting of the cross support 68 through a considerable range without interference `by the screws 60, The under surface of the rigid straps IIJ will roll upon the top curved surfaces of the supporting members 62 as the cross member is tilted; and the flanges 66 will bear against the outer surfaces of one of the sides of each member 'l0 so that the members 62 are prevented from turning when they are vertically adjusted along the screw 68 by turning the wheels 64.

The article support I4 is provided with a rigid frame extension l2 which is U-shaped, having the ends thereof secured to one end of the support I4 adjacent the sides thereof. The sides of the member 'I2 are adapted to slidably rest upon'the cross member 68. In order to prevent transverse displacement of the cross member 68,' stops 14 are fixed to the ends of the member 68 and project upwardly therebeyond so that such stops would abut against the sides of the frame side 'I2 in the event that the cross member tended to slip out of position to one or the other of the sides.

It is desired that the longitudinal'axis of rotation of the supporting member I 4 be maintained in the same vertical plane regardless of the angle of tilt of the support I4. In order to ensure that this condition exists, a longitudinallyextending table pivot 16 is provided which is aligned with the longitudinal axis of rotation of the support Ill and is secured at one end to the support I4 and at the other end Vto the base of the frame member l2. The pivot 16 isy circular in crosssectional configuration and is adapted to be received between vertical, spaced guides 1B. The lower ends of the guides 18 may be fixed to one end of the base I and the upper ends may be also fixed to the longitudinally extending center top frame member 24. The center of the space between the vertical guides 18 lies in the same plane as the center of the screw 28, so that it will be evident that the axis of rotation of the support M remains in the same plane regardless of the compound angle to which the support i4 is set.

In use, an automobilefender, for example, may

be attached to the under surface of the supportl ing table I4. It may then be set toany desired compound angle by vertically adjusting the position-s of the carriage 48 and the two supporting members (i2. Since the two supporting members @2 may be vertically `adjusted independently of each other, it will be seen that the support M may be set at selected compound angles.` As mentioned above, the elongated apertures provided by the end straps permit tilting of the supportingmember lill through a considerable angle; and also the provision of the o-pen frame 12 permits tilting or raising of the left end of the support lll (viewing Fig. 3) to a considerable height. It will be noted that the lefthand end of the top frame (viewing Fig. 3 from the left) formed by the members 22 and -24 is left open so that the frame 12 may pass upwardly through the spaces between the screws 60 and the center frame member 24 without obstruction.

When the article is set at the desired angle, it is a relatively simple matter to project points on the article to drafting `paper on table l2 to make projected layouts. This may be accomplished through use of the height gauge disclosed and claimed in the above mentioned United States Patent No. 2,196,328, which is adapted to movably rest upon table l2.

Another use to which the present apparatus may be put is in connection with set-ups for proiiling machines in which the article may be set at the proper compound angle on the tilted support and be used in conjunction with the conventional proiiling machine.

The uses mentioned above are merely illustrative and it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present apparatus is capable of a variety of other uses. The uses mentioned above are not to be considered as limiting on the invention disclosed and claimed. i

Formal changes may be made in the speciiic embodiment of the invention disclosed without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the type described comprising means forming a stationary work supporting surface, an elongated, article support disposed above said surface and in spaced relation thereto, the space between said surface and said support being free of obstruction, means for attaching an article to said support, means for vertically adjusting both ends of said support relative to said surface independently of each other, and means for tiltably adjusting said support relative to said surface, whereby said support may be set at selected compound angles relative to said surface.

2. A device of the type described comprising means forming a stationary, substantially horizontal work supporting surface, an elongated article support disposed above said surface and in spaced relation thereto, the space between said surface and said support being free of obstruction, means for attaching an article to said support, means for vertically adjusting both ends of said support relative to said surface independently of each other, means for tilt-.ably adjusting said support relative rto said surface, whereby said support may be set at selected compound angles relative to said surface, and means for maintaining the longitudinal axis of said support` in the same vertical plane for any angular set of said support.

3. A device of the type described comprising a base, a stationary, substantially horizontal working table mounted on said base, a rst vertical" support connected to said base adjacent one endy of said table, a `pair of vertical supports con; nected to said base adjacent the other end of' said table, an elongated article support disposed above said table, means pivotally connecting one end of said article support to said fir-st vertical support for pivotal movement relative thereto in cross planes, means mounting the opposite sides of the other end of said article to said pair of vertical supports respectively, said last-named means being vertically adjustable for independent vertical adjustment of each of said sides along their respective supports; means vertically adjusting said one end of said article support along said iirst vertical support, whereby said article support may be set at selected compound angles relative'to said table.

4. A device of the type described comprising a base, a stationary, substantially horizontal Working table mounted on said base, a first vertical support connected to said base adjacent one end of said table, a pair of vertical supports connected to said base adjacent the other end of said table and on opposite sides thereof, an elongated article support disposed above said table, means pivotally connecting one end of said article `support to said first vertical support for pivotal movement relative thereto in cross planes, said pivotal connection being aligned with the longitudinal centerline of said support, means mounting the opposite sides of the other end of said article support to said pair of vertical supports respectively, said last-named means being vertically adjustable for independent vertical adjustment for each of said sides along their respective supports, means vertically adjusting said one end of said article support along said first vertical support, whereby said article support may be set at selected compound angles relative to said table, and means for maintaining the longitudinal axis of said support in the same vertical plane for any angular set of said support.

5. A device of the type described comprising a base, a stationary, substantially horizontal working table mounted on said base, an elongated article support disposed above said table, means for xing an articles to said article support, means. forming a three-point support for said article support, means pivotally connecting one end of said article support to one of said points of said means for pivotal movement relative thereto in cross planes, means slidably mounting the opposite sides of the other end of said article support to the other of said points respectively,

said pivotal connecting means and said slidably mounting means including means for vertically adjusting one independently of the other, whereby said article support may be set at selected compound angles relative to said table.

6. A device of the type described comprising a base, a stationary, substantially horizontal working table mounted on said base, an elongated article support disposed above said table, means for xing an article to said article support, means forming a three-point support for said article support, means pivotally connecting one end of said article support to one of the points of said means for pivotal movement relative thereto in cross planes, means slidably mounting the opposite sides of the other end of said article support to the other or said points respectively, said pivotal connecting means and said slidably mounting means including means for vertically adjusting one independently of the other, whereby said article support may be set at selected compound angles relative to said table, and means for maintaining the longitudinal axis of the article support in the same Vertical plane for any angular set of said article support.

7. A device of the type described comprising a work member, an elongated article support disposed adjacent said member and in spaced relation thereto, the space between said surface and said support being free of obstruction, means for attaching an article to said support, means for vertically adjusting both ends of said support relative to said member independently of each other, means for tiltably adjusting said support relative to said member, whereby said support may be set at selected compound angles relative to said member, and means for maintaining the longitudinal axis of said support in the same vertical plane for any angular set of said support.

8. A device of the type described comprising a Work member, an elongated article support disposed adjacent said member, means for ixing an article to said article support, means forming a three point support for said article support, means pivotally connecting one end of said article support to one of the points of said means for pivotal movement relative theretol in cross-planes, means slidably mounting the opposite sides of the other end of said article support to the other two of said points respectively, said pivotal connecting means and said lslidable mounting means including means for vertically adjusting one independently of the other, whereby said article support may be set at selected compound angles relative to said Work member, and means for maintaining the longitudinal axis of the article support in the same vertical plane for any angular set of said article support.

ADOLPH SPALEK. WILLIAM J. ZRENCHIK. 

